"We have written to the match referee asking him to find out if Chappell has made the comments attributed to him," PCB director Abbas Zaidi told Reuters on Wednesday.

"We are taking this issue very seriously."

Earlier, PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan confirmed the board was seeking clarification regarding Chappell's views on the matter.

"We have seen these reports and we are trying to find out whether he has said these things," Shaharyar said.

"If he has implied anything about Shoaib's action it is a violation of the ICC (International Cricket Council) code of conduct."

A former Australian captain, Chappell was reported by an Indian television channel as saying that there was "something seriously different" about Shoaib's action.

The comments came after Indian batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble were both hit on the helmet by rising Shoaib deliveries in the third and final Test between the sides taking place in Karachi this week.

The Times Now channel claimed Chappell had told them he had seen a lot of people hit by Shoaib and that India could do without their players being hit like that.

"Even if something has been implied in any statement we will pursue it with the match referee," Shaharyar said.

"In 2004, our chief selector Wasim Bari made some comments about the umpires officiating in a international game involving Pakistan and he was reprimanded by the ICC for violation of code of conduct which applies to all players, team and board officials.

"

The 30-year-old Shoaib has been reported three times for a suspect bowling action but was cleared to play first class cricket in 2001, after which he has not been reported again.

"Even if there is a problem with his action, there is a procedure outlined by the ICC and team officials can't imply anything," Shaharyar added.

PTI adds, the Indian team management on Tuesday denied media reports that they had complained to the match referee regarding the bowling action of Akhtar.

Reacting to reports that India had lodged a formal complaint against Shoaib after the second Test in Faisalabad, Indian team's media manager GS Walia said, "We have not lodged any complaint against any bowler."

Walia was approached for comments after the third day's play of the Karachi third Test when the news started doing the rounds.

Akhtar, on his part, threatened to take legal action against those who claimed that he was chucking.

"I don't know why people are saying this. I have been cleared by the International Cricket Council three times. I will take them to court as it's a violation of my human rights," he told a TV channel.

"People in India and Pakistan should realise the consequences of saying such things," he said.